Portable holder for pressurized containers

ABSTRACT

A combined holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container having a control valve for controlling discharge of the fluid, comprising a member having two parts fastened together to form a handle, the parts having flexible facing semi-circular arms which together are adapted to fit over a beaded formation on the container and a clamping device for flexing the arms inwardly to grip the container, together with an actuating arm operable by squeezing the handle to actuate the valve.

United States Patent 1 Batistelli et al.

[ 1 3,734,357 1 May 22,1973

[54] PORTABLE HOLDER FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS [75] Inventors: Nello Batistelli, Downey; James P. S.

Adams, Palos Verdes Estates, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: said Batistelli by said Adams [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 179,405

[52] U.S. Cl. ..222/323, 222/474, 239/375 [51] Int. Cl. ..B05b 11/00 [58] Field of Search ..222/323, 465, 467,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,659,791 5/1972 Clark ..222/474 X 2,820,578 l/1958 Dickman ..222/470 X 2,830,742 4/1958 Gibbons et al. ..222/323 2,868,421 l/l959 Schott ..222/473 3,510,028 5/1970 Batistelli ..222/473 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Handren Attorney-Fred N. Schwend 57] ABSTRACT A combined holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container having a control valve for controlling discharge of the fluid, comprising a member having two parts fastened together to form a handle, the parts having flexible facing semi-circular arms which together are adapted to fit over a beaded formation on the container and a clamping device for flexing the arms inwardly to grip the container, together with an actuating arm operable by squeezing the handle to actuate the valve.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PORTABLE HOLDER FOR PRESSURIZED CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to holders for pressurized fluid containers of the aerosol type to facilitate handling and utilizing the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art Pressurized containers of the aerosol type are commonly used for applying sprays of various kinds. However, because of their size and shape they are somewhat awkward to handle and manipulate. For this reason, portable holders have been developed as shown, for example, in the F. C. Wallace U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,934 and in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,510,028.

Although such prior art holders are generally satisfactory, they must, of necessity, be manufactured as in expensive as possible with few parts and for this reason they have heretofore resulted in devices which are uncomfortable to hold due to sharp cornered handle portions, etc., which tend to tire the user, particularly if the containers are relatively heavy and are used over extended periods of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, I provide a very simple and inexpensive holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container comprising two parts which are secured together to form a comfortably fitting handle, the two parts having flexible substantially semicircular arms which cooperate to encircle the usual beaded section of the container to properly locate the holder relative to the container. A clamping device flexes the arms toward each other to grip the container. An actuating arm pivotally supported by the handle actuates the discharge valve of the container when the user squeezes the handle. This enables the user to comfortably carry and manipulate the device with one hand. The resulting holder is compact, light in weight and has a minimum number of protruding parts which might otherwise prevent the use of the container in corners or in confined places.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a holder embodying a preferred form of my invention and showing the same attached to a pressurized aerosol container.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the holder and attached container.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the holder.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the holder and is taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the clamping device and is taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the aerosol container 11 disclosed is of conventional construction, comprising a cylindrical side section 12, a domed top 13, a bead l4 connecting the top to the side section, and a depressible valve member 15 having an orifice 16 which, when the valve member is depressed, directs a spray of fluid from the container at right angles to the length of the container.

According to the present invention, I provide a twopart holder 17, preferably formed of molded plastic. The two parts 18 and 20 of the holder are of substantially the same shape and are secured together by screws 21 and 22 to form a substantially cylindrical handle portion 23 which is convenient and comfortable to hold in one hand.

The two parts 18 and 20 have integrally formed substantially semi-circular arms 24 and 25, respectively, thereon which extend substantially at 90 to the length of the handle portion 23. The arms 24 and 25 are relatively flexible and each has a pair of spaced inwardly extending ribs 26 and 27 which together define a groove 28 adapted to be fitted over the head 14 of the container 11 and thus accurately locates the holder 17 relative to the container.

A clamping device generally indicated at 30 is provided to flex the arms 24 and 25 inwardly and thus firmly clamp the holder to the container. Such device comprises thin metal base piece 31 suitably cemented or otherwise secured to an indented portion 32 at the outer or free end of arm 25. A curved metal connector piece or link 33 is hinged to the base piece at 34 and, in turn, is hinged at 35 to a shorter latch piece or link 36. The free end of the piece 36 is engageable with a shoulder 37 formed at the outer tip or free end of the arm 24.

When the clamping device is swung into its releasing position shown by the dot-dash lines 30a of FIG. 6, the arms 24 and 25 spring apart slightly to enable the holder to be readily attached to a new container. Then, by fitting the free end of the latch piece 36 against the shoulder 37 and swinging the curved piece 33 toward the arms 24 and 25, the latch piece will draw the arms together to grip the container and will return the arms in such condition.

It will be noted particularly in FIG. 4 that the handle portion 23 is hollow and has openings 40 and 41 formed therein. An actuating lever 42, preferably molded of plastic, is mounted mainly within the handle portion 23 and has trunnion bearing portions 43 and 44 pivotally mounted in sockets 45 extending inwardly from the two holder parts 18 and 20.

An upper end 46 of the lever 42 extends through the opening 40 and terminates directly above the control valve 15 of the container 11 while a lower end 47 of the lever extends through the opening 41 in the handle and terminates in a trigger formation. Thus, when the handle is gripped to hold the container 12, squeezing inwardly on the lower end 47 of the lever 42 will cause its upper end to depress the valve member 15 and thus direct a spray outwardly.

The handle portion 23 extends slightly above the arm 42 and has grooves formed on opposite sides thereof, one of which is shown at 48, to receive and support additional devices, such as a squeegy, which may be used in conjunction with the device.

I claim:

1. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container having a valve at one end thereof said parts forming a hollow handle extending in one direction,

flexible substantially semi-circular arms integral with respective ones of said parts and facing each other,

said arms extending substantially at right angles to the length of said handle,

locating means on each said arm adapted to locate against said bead,

said locating means comprising a pair of spaced ridges adapted to straddle said bead,

a clamping device for flexing said arms toward each other whereby to grip said container,

an actuating lever mainly in said handle, and

means on said member pivotally supporting said lever,

said lever having a first portion extending in cooperative relation with said valve and a second portion extending along said handle.

2. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container having a valve at one end thereof flexible substantially semi-circular arms integral with respective ones of said parts and facing each other, said arms extending substantially at right angles to the length of said handle, locating means on said arms adapted to locate against said bead, a clamping device for flexing said arms toward each other whereby to grip said container, said clamping device comprising a pair of links,

a first pivotal connection between adjacent ends of said links, and additional pivotal connections between the opposite ends of said links and respective free ends of said arms, said links being swingable to move said first pivoted connected over-center whereby to maintain said 1 arms in inwardly flexed clamping positions;

an actuating lever mainly in said handle, and

means on said member pivotally supporting said lever,

said lever having a first portion extending in cooperative relation with said valve and a second portion extending along said handle.

3. A portable holder and control device according to claim 2 wherein one of said additional pivotal connections is freely separable from said respective arm. 

1. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container having a valve at one end thereof adapted to control discharge of fluid from said container and a bead surrounding said container, comprising a member having two parts, means fastening said parts together, said parts forming a hollow handle extending in one direction, flexible substantially semi-circular arms integral with respective ones of said parts and facing each other, said arms extending substantially at right angles to the length of said handle, locating means on each said arm adapted to locate against said bead, said locating means comprising a pair of spaced ridges adapted to straddle said bead, a clamping device for flexing said arms toward each other whereby to grip said container, an actuating lever mainly in said handle, and means on said member pivotally supporting said lever, said lever having a first portion extending in cooperative relation with said valve and a second portion extending along said handle.
 2. A portable holder and control device for a pressurized fluid container having a valve at one end thereof adapted to control discharge of fluid from said container and a bead surrounding said container, comprising a member having two parts, means fastening said parts together, said parts forming a hollow handle extending in one direction, flexible substantially semi-circular arms integral with respective ones of said parts and facing each other, said arms extending substantially at right angles to the length of said handle, locating means on said arms adapted to locate against said bead, a clamping device for flexing said arms toward each other whereby to grip said container, said clamping device comprising a pair of links, a first pivotal connection between adjacent ends of said links, and additional pivotal connections between the opposite ends of said links and respective free ends of said arms, said links being swingable to move said first pivoted connected over-center whereby to maintain said arms in inwardly flexed clamping positions; an actuating lever mainly in said handle, and means on said member pivotally supporting said lever, said lever having a first portion extending in cooperative relation with said valve and a second portion extending along said handle.
 3. A portable holder and control device according to claim 2 wherein one of said additional pivotal connections is freely separable from said respective arm. 